TOKYO, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Two people were taken to hospital after an explosion ripped through an apartment building in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Saturday morning, local media reported.
The blast occurred at around 6:30 a.m. local time in a three-story apartment building in Fukuei, Ichikawa City. A witness called police after hearing a loud blast and seeing smoke rising from the building, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Two people were injured and taken to hospital, and their injuries were not life-threatening, the report said.
Footage from an NHK helicopter showed that the first floor of the apartment building had been severely damaged, with debris scattered outside the structure. Windows of a neighboring building were also shattered by the blast.
Police are investigating the cause of the explosion. ■
